The Cape Town Destroyers, a specialist team, within the Fire & Rescue Service, is currently in Luxembourg to compete in the annual World Rescue Challenge.
The team consists of nine firefighters and rescue services technicians from different Mother City fire stations.
They will compete against 71 other teams at the event.
The team boasts a combined 176 years of experience between them.
The event has two components: the aim of the trauma challenge is to assist in the development of trauma-related skills of firefighters and rescue workers to enable them to deal successfully with the vast range of casualty-centered incidents, while the goal of a rescue/extrication challenge is to save the casualties out of vehicles involved in a collision.
The City’s Fire & Rescue Service responded to 3 516 motor vehicle accidents during the last financial year and the extrication team is often called upon to help free victims from life-threatening scenes.
While they are stationed at different fire stations, they often respond as a team to accidents where victims are trapped.
During the last week before the team jetted off, they prepared for the challenge and worked through the different scenarios they will be judged on.
The team members are:
• Incident Commander – Station Commander Morne Haskell stationed at Goodwood Fire Station, resides in Parow
• Technician – Station Commander Warren Sam ( Interim Team Manager ) stationed at Goodwood Fire Station, resides in Belhar
• Technician – Station Commander Virgel Cloete stationed at Strand Fire Station, resides in Strand
• Technician – Senior Firefighter Alvin Kaliza stationed at Goodwood Fire Station, resides in Belhar
• Medic – Senior Firefighter Michael Gardiner stationed at Strand Fire Station, resides in Strand
• Medic – Firefighter Robert Stamatiadis stationed at Lakeside, resides in Diep River
• Reserve Technician – Firefighter Gershwin Cloete stationed at Macassar, resides in Somerset West
• Reserve Medic – Firefighter Keenan Walters stationed at Goodwood Fire Station, resides in Belhar
• Team Manager – District Head Operations Arlene Wehr, could not accompany the team due to medical reasons
Mayoral Committee member at the City’s Directorate for Safety & Security, JP Smith, says they will return home on the 17th of September.
‘Our team is on par with the best in the world, and every challenge in this competition gives them the opportunity to learn new extrication techniques, the stabilization of vehicles, and patient care. They return with skills and knowledge to improve service delivery.’
Smith says the extrication of victims from vehicle accidents has become one of the most important life-saving functions and rescuers are responsible for setting up a safe working area, evaluating possible hazards, and getting those trapped out quickly.
Read Smith’s full statement here.
Related articles:
- Off-duty police officer killed in front of his home.
- MEC Allen: Alleged SAPS contraventions deeply worrying.
City’s specialist team competes on international stage
The City’s specialist extrication team within the Fire & Rescue Service, the Cape Town Destroyers, are in Luxembourg where they are competing in the World Rescue Challenge.
Read more: https://t.co/4u7a5JlHSL#CTNews pic.twitter.com/S3SJWlIHk4
— City of Cape Town (@CityofCT) September 9, 2022
